Page 19 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“Would you rather I talk to you?” Ash suggests, an infuriating smirk blooming on his lips. “Maybe you should swap seats with Gabe here, so we can get to know each other.”

Oh, for Christ’s sake. Lesson learned: no going in public with his stupid cousin ever again.

“No, thanks.” Kieran sniffs. “I don’t have three hundred on me to pay you for achat.”

Ash hums, and that’s…not good. “Shame. You sound like you could use my services.”

Yup, there it is.

Kieran takes a breath so sharp it can be heard over the speakers, already halfway out of his seat, white hot rage flashing in his eyes. “The fuck did you just—”

“Kieran!” Dawson snaps at the same time that Gabe hisses, “Ash!”

Ash continues to smile while Kieran glares. Gabe starts crying on the inside, and almost on the outside.

Eventually, everyone is saved by the openingMarvelcredits appearing on the screen.

“Oh, hey, the movie is starting!” Gabe announces with fake enthusiasm, but the relief is real. Once everyone has marginallycalmed down, Gabe leans into Ash’s space and growls, “You always have to stir shit up, don’t you?”

Ash doesn’t even take his eyes off the screen. “Only when the situation invites me.”

“Yeah, right.” Gabe scoffs, trying to focus on the beginning of the movie. It lasts all of twenty seconds before a wave of something hot and tacky rushes over him. He frowns when he feels a tingle in his belly, his skin suddenly hot despite the aircon. He looks around, trying to find out who it’s coming from because it sure as hell isn’t from him. It dawns on him when he feels Ash shift in his seat, crossing his legs, and another wave slams into him.

He gags, slapping Ash’s chest. “Oh my god. Gross! Stop it now!”

It’s bad enough when it happens with random people, but feeling his own cousin’s arousal? That’s just yuck!

“I’m not doing anything,” Ash lies.

So not only does Ash love conflict. It clearly gets him off.

Gabe could’ve lived his whole life without that particular knowledge.

He leans closer so he doesn’t have to whisper. “Kieran is straight and clearly biased against therapists. And he’s a friend. Don’t you try anything.”

Ash chuckles darkly. It sounds dirty. It feels dirty.

Gabe is so putting bleach in his bath today.

“They’re all straight until I get my dick in them.”

Gabe manages not to hurl into the popcorn, but it’s a close call. He shoves the box at Ash. “I lost my appetite.”

Ash happily takes it from him. “More for me.”

Gabe suffers through the movie, unable to focus on what’s happening on the screen because he’s too busy blocking out Ash’s horniness.

The awkwardness from before grows tenfold when the movie ends, and the four of them make their way out of the theater.

Once outside, Gabe lets the horny-cousin-repelling-shield down, taking in a relieved breath. Summoning a smile, he turns to Dawson and Kieran. Kieran still has daggers in his eyes.

“Well, it was nice bumping into you, guys. See you tomorrow?” Kieran pops into the café here and there, but Dawson shows up more often than not.

“Probably not,” Dawson says regretfully. “I have to be at the shelter earlier than usual. But Tuesday, maybe.”

“Alrighty. Say hi to Cal for me.”

“Will do.” He looks at Ash. “I’ll see you Friday.”